Physiological Effects of Aquatic Exercise on Cognitive Function in the Aging Population

Neurocognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, is considered to be the world’s fastest growing disease (Alzheimer’s Association, 2011). Due to this escalation, research focused on determining causes, accelerants, impeding factors, and preventative strategies has become a focus of interest within the field. One of the principal points of study is the role that exercise plays in the maintenance or fortification against neurocognitive decline. Though there is a robust library of research focused on the effects of land-based exercise on cognitive function, currently there is no research that discusses the impact of aquatic-based exercise on these parameters. This paper will examine the effects of land-based exercise on cognitive function while bridging these results to the aquatic environment.